School Safety

Safety is the number one priority in the Peoria Unified School District.

SCHOOL EMERGENCIES

Emergency Operations Plan

Peoria Unified has a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan that addresses school crisis situations.

Peoria Unified administrators have been trained and drill on each type of emergency situation – with and without students present. The district has a strong relationship with all local municipalities to ensure our Emergency Operations Plan is up-to-date and thorough. The plan is updated annually to allow the best outcome in the event of a crisis, with guidance and oversight by the police departments that serve our district.

Each school site will conduct the following practice with students and staff:

Monthly evacuation (fire) drills

Two lockdown drills per school year

Two shelter-in-place drills per school year

Two bus evacuation drills per year

At the discretion of the site supervisor, drills may or may not be communicated to parents in advance.

To maintain the district’s laser focus on student and staff safety, specific details within the Emergency Operations Plan are not shared with the public.

School Resource Officers

The Peoria Unified School District has long-standing relationships with the City of Glendale and City of Peoria police departments to ensure the safety procedures we have in place are met with their approval and expertise. We are also proud to partner with both of these police departments to provide School Resource Officers on all seven high school campuses. These SROs establish relationships at their respective feeder elementary schools and both Glendale and Peoria Police Departments will increase patrol in the immediate area at a school site, should they require it.

Shelter-in-Place

The shelter-in-place protocol provides safe refuge for students, staff and visitors at the school. This might include a situation taking place in the community, near the proximity of the school or a biohazard situation. During a shelter-in-place, students and staff will remain indoors with the doors locked, as directed by either law enforcement or the school principal, although the educational learning environment may proceed as usual.

Lockdown

Lockdowns may be issued in situations involving dangerous intruders or other incidents that may pose a threat to a student or staff’s immediate safety. During a lockdown, all interior and exterior doors will be locked. Parents and visitors will not be allowed on campus during a lockdown.

Evacuation and Relocation

The district’s Evacuation protocol includes everything from evacuating from a room to another room – evacuating from one building to another – evacuating from a building to the school grounds – or evacuating off-site to an alternate location.

In the event of an off-site evacuation, the district will implement its Reunification Plan and families will receive communication from the school district, advising them of the location and area in which they can pick up their child. Please note that proper identification will be required to further ensure a child’s safety.

The Emergency Operations Plan includes specific guidelines for relocating students with disabilities and non-English speaking students.

Communication During a School Emergency

Parents will be notified during a school crisis or shortly thereafter, depending on how long the event lasts. It is critically important that parents follow the district’s protocol in the event of an emergency. The school will not answer their phone during an emergency. Parents and visitors will not be allowed on campus until the campus has been deemed safe.

Detailed information regarding the emergency situation will be shared on the district’s website at www.peoriaunified.org/updates and will be updated as additional details become available.

Parents will also receive a phone, email and/or text message with details about the event. It is important to keep your contact information updated at your child’s school site. You can always check social media but remember that official district communication will always be shared directly on our website.

Please note that during a school crisis, the school may not answer the phone. The staff’s number one priority is to ensure everyone’s safety on campus. The district’s Communications and Public Relations Department will share information with families once it has been verified.

Depending on the type of crisis situation, students may be asked to text their parents and let them know that they are safe. In some crisis situations, students will not be allowed to use their phones.

We know you have questions. Information will be shared as it becomes available to us as quickly as possible.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1.

Safe School Line 623-486-6199

In order to maintain the safest learning environment, Peoria Unified School District offers a Safe School Line for students, parents and community members to anonymously report threats or suspicious activity. Any messages will be retrieved during the district's regular business hours and reported to the appropriate school principal.

Anti-Bullying Policy

The Peoria Unified School District has a zero-tolerance policy on bullying. Resources are available for parents and students if you suspect someone has been bullied. To view the Parents Guide to Bullying, or the Bullying Prevention Brochure, see the links on the right.

How do I report bullying?

Tell a teacher, principal, guidance counselor or any staff member on campus • Tell parents or a family member • Tell any adult you know and trust • Complete a Bully Incident Report Form and return it to your school’s front office • Call Peoria Unified’s Safe School Lineat 623-486-6199 • Additional resources can be found at http://www.stopbullying.gov